Articulated lever mechanism for retractable thumb drive

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanism to extend and retract a thumb drive's connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A number of mechanisms have been devised for protecting a USB connector in a thumb drive memory device. As discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,400 to Tu, the prior art solution used a removable cap that snapped over the USB connector. See Tu, at column 1, lines 30 through 40, and FIG. 1 ("Prior Art"). The Tu patent discloses a USB connector at the end of a printed circuit board ("PCB") slidably disposed within a case. In one embodiment, a spring urges the PCB toward a position in which the USB connector extends beyond the case, and a "pushing button" with an arm having a "buckling piece" holds the PCB in a retracted position. Another embodiment disclosed in Tu reverses the spring and buckle arrangement to hold the PCB and USB connector in the extended position. Other embodiments of Tu use a lipstick-style mechanism. The lipstick-style mechanism relies on a rotating knob that turns a threaded shaft which screws into a threaded bore connected to the PCB. When the knob is turned, the shaft causes the PCB to extend or retract.

[0003] A button mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,454 to Tang et al., relying on a "middle carrier" that is located within halves of a casing, whereby the carrier can be moved within the case, thereby extending or retracting a USB connector.

[0004] The present retractable thumb drive mechanisms relying on a button to extend and retract the USB connector provide no mechanical advantage. The lipstick-style mechanism provides some mechanical advantage, but requires two hands to operate and usually requires too many turns.

[0005] Further prior art thumb drives are known from WO 2009/136704 and US 7 422 3454.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a retractable USB thumb drive mechanism that offers mechanical advantage for extending and retracting the USB connector. The present invention also provides a mechanism that can be operated with one hand.

[0007] According to a first aspect, there is provided a device as recited by Claim 1.

[0008] The memory storage unit may be part of a PCBA having circuitry to which said memory storage unit is electrically connected, wherein the connector may be electrically connected to said circuitry, and wherein the circuitry may electrically connect said memory storage unit and said connector.

[0009] The connector may be fixed to said PCBA.

[0010] The PCBA and memory storage unit and connector may form a carriage having a connector end and a second end, wherein the rod may be connected to said second end.

[0011] The rod may be pivotably connected to the second end of said carriage by a pin.

[0012] The casing may further comprise an arced wall located on the exterior of said casing, wherein the operating end of said lever may pivot about said arced wall.

[0013] The arced wall may further comprise a base and a channel located at said base, wherein the operating end of said lever may further comprise a guide portion that is trapped in said channel.

[0014] The channel may further comprise at least one indent, wherein the guide portion of the operating end of said lever may further comprise a protrusion that is releaseably captured by said indent.

[0015] The second end of said rod may have a projection that is captured between a pair of guide rails, wherein at least one of said guide rails may further comprise at least one flexible protrusion extending in the direction of the other guide rail, so that the projection of the operating end of said lever is trapped in at least one position when the projection is forced past said flexible protrusion.

[0016] The casing may further comprise a latch to releaseably hold the rod in at least one of said extended or retracted positions.

[0017] The latch may comprise: a guide channel formed on a surface of the interior of said casing, said guide channel may further comprise a notch, and a guide portion at the second end of said rod, wherein the guide portion may ride in and be captured by said guide channel, said guide portion may further comprise a projection, wherein the projection of said guide portion may be releaseably held in the notch of the channel when the operating lever is in the at least one of said extended or retracted positions.

[0018] The articulated end of said memory storage unit may further comprise an extension, wherein the interior of said casing may further comprise a channel formed by at least two, opposite side walls in which said extension is captured, and wherein at least one of said side walls may further comprise at least one flexible projection extending toward the opposite side wall, so that the extension is releaseably retained in one portion of said channel when said extension is pushed past said flexible projection.

[0019] The second end of the rod is preferably connected to the articulated end of said memory storage unit by a pin.

[0020] The exterior of said casing may further comprise an arced surface, and wherein the operating end of said operating lever may pivot on said arced surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] 

FIG. 1 is a three-quarter, cut-away view of the thumb drive mechanism of the present invention, showing the connector in the extended position.

FIG. 2 is a three-quarter, cut-away view of the thumb drive mechanism of the present invention, showing the connector in the retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a three-quarter, exterior view of the thumb drive mechanism of the present invention, showing the operating button of the operating lever in the extended position.

FIG. 4 is a three-quarter, exterior view of the thumb drive mechanism of the present invention, showing the operating button of the operating lever in the retracted position.

FIG. 5 is a three-quarter, detailed view of the lever mechanism of one embodiment of the invention, showing the mechanism in a fully extended position.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the lever mechanism of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a three-quarter, detailed view of the lever mechanism of one embodiment of the invention, showing the mechanism in a fully retracted position.

FIG. 8 is a three-quarter, cut-away view of an alternative embodiment of a thumb drive mechanism of the present invention, showing the connector in the extended position.

FIG. 9 is a three-quarter, cut-away view of an alternative embodiment of a thumb drive mechanism of the present invention, showing the connector in the retracted position.

FIG. 10 is a three-quarter, exterior view of an alternative embodiment of a thumb drive mechanism of the present invention, showing the operating lever in the extended position.

FIG. 11 is a three-quarter, exterior view of an alternative embodiment of a thumb drive mechanism of the present invention, showing the operating lever in the retracted position.

FIG. 12 is a three-quarter, detailed view of the lever mechanism of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, showing the mechanism in a partially extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a flash memory thumb drive 10 with the USB connector 11 in the extended position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the USB connector 11 is electrically connected to the memory device 13, which together form a support structure 12. The USB connector 11 and the memory device 13 may be mounted on a printed circuit board assembly ("PCBA") and together form the support structure 12. It is not necessary that the USB connector 11 and memory device 13 be fixed on a PCBA to form a unitary structure, but, if the memory device 13 is separate from the support structure 12, then alternative electrical connections between the connector 11 and the memory device 13 must be provided. Persons in the art will appreciate that such connections can be provided by wires, contact strips, or other arrangements. The support structure 12 is mounted in a carriage 15 which is slidably received between the bottom 14 and top 25 (shown in FIG. 3) halves of the complete flash memory thumb drive 10 casing. The USB connector 11 is at one end of the support structure 12. The opposite end (where the line for reference number "15" is directed in the drawings) of the carriage 15 is connected by a shaft 19 to a first lever 16. First lever 16 is pivotably connected at a pivot end 20 to the second end of an operating lever 17. Operating lever 17 pivots on a shaft 18 located in the middle of the lever 17. The distal end of the operating lever 17 is the operating end 21 of the mechanism. The operating end 21 of the operating lever 17 swivels about a 90-degree arced wall 22 from position A to position B (as shown in FIG. 2). In position A, operating lever 17 and first lever 16 are aligned from end 21 to end 19, so that the support structure 12 is extended to its maximum travel and the USB connector 11 extends out of the casing of the thumb drive 10. When operating end 21 is moved to position B, as shown in FIG. 2, operating lever 17 swivels about pivot shaft 18 and comes to a stop at a right angle to the length of the thumb drive 10. In position B, the first lever 16 is pulled by the pivot end 20 and the shaft 19 in turn pulls the carriage 15 into a retracted position, which brings the USB connector 11 within the casing of the thumb drive 10.

[0023] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the thumb drive 10 with the top half 25 of the casing in place. In FIG. 3, the operating end 21 of the operating lever 17 (not seen in FIG. 3), is in position A on the arced wall 22, so that the USB connector 11 is extended out of the thumb drive 10 casing. In FIG. 4, the operating end 21 of the operating lever 17 (not seen in FIG. 4), is in position B on the arced wall 22, so that the USB connector 11 (not seen in FIG. 4) is retracted within the thumb drive 10 casing.

[0024] FIGS. 5 through 7 provide detail of the lever mechanisms. FIG. 5 shows the mechanism in position A, which pushes the carriage 15 forward to extend the USB connector 11 out of the thumb drive 10 casing (as shown in FIG. 1). The opposite end of the carriage 15 has the shaft 19 to which the first lever 16 is pivotably connected. When first lever 16 is pushed or pulled by the operating lever 17, shaft 19 pushes or pulls the carriage 15. At the pivot end 20, the first lever 16 is pivotably connected to the operating lever 17 by a shaft 29. Operating lever 17 pivots on a rocker shaft 18. At the distal end of the operating lever 17 is the operating end 21, which can have a grooved surface (as shown), to provide more grip to the user. FIG. 5 shows the operating end 21 in position A, where the operating lever 17 and first lever 16 are aligned and the carriage 15 is pushed to its extended position. FIG. 5 provides detail of the operating end 21 of the operating lever 17 in position A and FIG. 7 shows it in position B. FIG. 6 is a detail, cross section view of the operating end 21 of the operating lever 17. At the base of wall 22 is a channel 27 into which a guide portion 30 of the operating end 21 is trapped. Guide portion 30 extends down below the bottom of operating end 21 into channel 27. At positions A and B, indents 28 and 26 (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) provide a notch into which the guide portion 30 is releasably latched. Operating end 21 is flexible, so that when the user pushes on the operating end 21, the guide portion 30 is released from the indent (28 or 26) and the operating lever 17 can be swivelled about the arced wall 22.

[0025] FIGS. 8 through 12 show alternate embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the thumb drive 10 with the top half of the casing 25 in ghost, so that the mechanism may be seen as it rests on the bottom half of the casing 14. The opposite end of the carriage 15 is connected by shaft 19 to first lever 16. The operating lever 17, described above, is divided into two portions, a proximal portion 34 and a distal portion 31. First lever 16 is pivotably connected at pivot end 20 to the proximal portion 34. The proximal 34 and distal 31 portions form a lever that pivots 35 in the middle. The distal portion 31 is the operating end 32 of the mechanism. The operating end 32 swivels 90-degrees on an arced surface 33 from position C to position D (as shown in FIG. 9). In position C, the proximal 34 and distal 31 portions of the lever are aligned with lever 16 from end 32 to end 19, so that the carriage 15 is extended to its maximum travel and the USB connector 11 extends out of the casing of the thumb drive 10. When operating end 32 is moved to position D, as shown in FIG. 9, distal portion 31 swivels about pivot shaft 35 and comes to a stop at a right angle to the length of the thumb drive 10. In position D, the first lever 16 is pulled by the pivot end 20 and the shaft 19 in turn pulls the carriage 15 into a retracted position, which brings the USB connector 11 within the casing of the thumb drive 10. The operating end 32 of the lever has a gripping surface.

[0026] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the thumb drive 10 with the top half 25 of the casing in place. In FIG. 10, the operating end 32 of the distal portion 31 (shown in FIG. 8), is in position C on the arced surface 33, so that the USB connector 11 is extended out of the thumb drive 10 casing. In FIG. 11, the operating end 32 of the distal portion 31 (shown in FIG. 9), is in position D on the arced surface 33, so that the USB connector 11 (shown in FIG. 9) is retracted within the thumb drive 10 casing.

[0027] FIG. 12 provides a closer detail view of the lever mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 through 11. In FIG. 12, the top half 25 of the casing of the thumb drive 10 is drawn in ghost to reveal the latching mechanism described below. The opposite end of the carriage 15 has the shaft 19 to which the first lever 16 is pivotably connected. When first lever 16 is pushed or pulled by operating lever 17, shaft 19 pushes or pulls the carriage 15. At the pivot end 20, the first lever 16 is pivotably connected to the proximal portion 34 at 20. Distal portion 31 pivots at 35. Proximal portion 34 is located under the top casing 25, but distal portion 31 is located outside the top casing 25 on the arced surface 33. The proximal 34 and distal 31 portions of the lever are joined at the pivot 35. Thus, the distal portion 31 operates as an arcing lever. FIG. 12 shows the operating end 32 in position C, mid-way between the fully extended (C) and fully retracted (D) positions.

[0028] FIG. 12 also shows an alternative latching mechanism to hold the carriage 15 in the extended (C) or retracted (D) positions. The shaft 19 extends upward and is trapped by a pair of downwardly directed guide rails 36 formed as part of the inner surface of top casing 25. The pair of guide rails 36 form a guide channel. Protrusions 37 in the guide rails 36 trap the shaft 19 when it is in the fully extended (C) or fully retracted (D) position. The shaft 19, top casing 25, guide rails 36, and protrusions 37 are made of deformable material, such as plastic, so that when shaft 19 is pushed by the lever mechanism against protrusions 37, the shaft 19 will overcome the resistance of the protrusions 37 and be forced past them. But, the protrusions 37 will provide enough resistance to hold the support structure 12 in the extended (C) or retracted (D) position.

Claims

1. A device (10) comprising:

a casing (14, 25) having an interior cavity, an exterior, and an opening,

a memory storage unit (13) disposed within the interior cavity of said casing (14, 25),

a retractable USB connector (11) electrically connected to said memory storage unit (13) so that data stored in said memory storage unit (13) may be transferred to and from said memory storage unit (13), and wherein said connector (11) is configured to extend at least partially beyond the opening in the casing (14, 25),

a lever (17) having an operating end (21, 31), a joint end (20), and a pivot point, wherein the lever pivots on a fulcrum (18, 35) at the pivot point, and wherein at least the operating end (21, 31) of the lever (17) is located at the exterior of said casing (14, 25),

a rod (16) having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of the rod is connected to the joint end (20) of said lever (17), and wherein the second end of said rod is connected to the connector (11), so that when the lever (17) is pivoted about said fulcrum (18, 35) in one direction, the lever (17) pushes against said rod (16) and said rod (16) pushes the connector (11) through said opening in the casing (14, 25) to a position where at least a portion of the connector (11) extends outside the casing (14, 25), and so that when the lever (17) is pivoted about said fulcrum (18, 35) in another direction, the lever (17) pulls said rod (16) and said rod (16) pulls the connector (11) through said opening in the casing (14, 25) to a position where substantially all of the connector (11) is retracted within the interior cavity of said casing (14, 25),

characterised in that the pivot point is between the operating end (21, 31) and the joint end (20).

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the memory storage unit is part of a PCBA having circuitry to which said memory storage unit is electrically connected, and wherein the connector is electrically connected to said circuitry, and wherein the circuitry electrically connects said memory storage unit and said connector.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the connector is fixed to said PCBA, the PCBA and memory storage unit and connector form a carriage having a connector end and a second end, and the rod is connected to said second end.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the rod is pivotably connected to the second end of said carriage by a pin (19).

5. The device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the casing further comprises an arced wall (22) located on the exterior of said casing, and wherein the operating end of said lever pivots about said arced wall.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the arced wall further comprises a base and a channel (27) located at said base, and wherein the operating end of said lever further comprises a guide portion (30) that is trapped in said channel.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the channel further comprises at least one indent (26, 28), and wherein the guide portion of the operating end of said lever further comprises a protrusion that is releaseably captured by said indent.

8. The device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the second end of said rod has a projection that is captured between a pair of guide rails (36), and wherein at least one of said guide rails further comprises at least one flexible protrusion (37) extending in the direction of the other guide rail, so that the projection of the operating end of said lever is trapped in at least one position when the projection is forced past said flexible protrusion.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the casing further comprises a latch to releaseably hold the rod in at least one of said extended or retracted positions.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the latch comprises:

a guide channel formed on a surface of the interior of said casing, said guide channel further comprising a notch, and

a guide portion at the second end of said rod, wherein the guide portion rides in and is captured by said guide channel, said guide portion further comprising a projection, wherein the projection of said guide portion is releaseably held in the notch of the channel when the operating lever is in the at least one of said extended or retracted positions.

11. The device according to any of claims 1, 9 or 10 wherein an articulated end of said memory storage unit further comprises an extension, and wherein the interior of said casing further comprises a channel formed by at least two, opposite side walls in which said extension is captured, and wherein at least one of said side walls further comprises at least one flexible projection extending toward the opposite side wall, so that the extension is releaseably retained in one portion of said channel when said extension is pushed past said flexible projection.

12. The device according to any of claims 1 or 9 to 11 wherein the second end of the rod is connected to an articulated end of said memory storage unit by a pin (19).

13. The device according to any of claims 1 or 9 to 12 wherein the exterior of said casing further comprises an arced surface (33), and wherein the operating end of said operating lever pivots on said arced surface.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung (10), die Folgendes umfasst:

ein Gehäuse (14, 25) mit einem inneren Hohlraum, einer Außenseite und einer Öffnung,

eine Speichereinheit (13), die innerhalb des inneren Hohlraums des Gehäuses (14, 25) angeordnet ist,

einen einziehbaren USB-Anschluss (11), der elektrisch mit der Speichereinheit (13) verbunden ist, so dass in der Speichereinheit (13) gespeicherte Daten zu und von der Speichereinheit (13) übertragen werden können, und wobei der Anschluss (11) dafür konfiguriert ist, sich mindestens teilweise über die Öffnung in dem Gehäuse (14, 25) hinaus zu erstrecken,

einen Hebel (17) mit einem Betätigungsende (21, 31), einem Verbindungsende (20) und einem Drehpunkt, wobei der Hebel auf einem Hebelpunkt (18, 35) an dem Drehpunkt schwenkt und wobei mindestens das Betätigungsende (21, 31) des Hebels (17) an der Außenseite des Gehäuses (14, 25) angeordnet ist,

eine Stange (16) mit einem ersten Ende und einem zweiten Ende, wobei das erste Ende der Stange mit dem Verbindungsende (20) des Hebels (17) verbunden ist, und wobei das zweite Ende der Stange mit dem Anschluss (11) verbunden ist, so dass, wenn der Hebel (17) um den Hebelpunkt (18, 35) in eine Richtung geschwenkt wird, der Hebel (17) gegen die Stange (16) drückt und die Stange (16) den Anschluss (11) durch die Öffnung in dem Gehäuse (14, 25) zu einer Position drückt, in der sich mindestens ein Abschnitt des Anschlusses (11) außerhalb des Gehäuses (14, 25) erstreckt und so dass, wenn der Hebel (17) um den Hebelpunkt (18, 35) in eine andere Richtung geschwenkt wird, der Hebel (17) die Stange (16) zieht und die Stange (16) den Anschluss (11) durch die Öffnung in dem Gehäuse (14, 25) zu einer Position zieht, in der im Wesentlichen der gesamte Anschluss (11) innerhalb des inneren Hohlraums des Gehäuses (14, 25) zurückgezogen ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Drehpunkt zwischen dem Betätigungsende (21, 31) und dem Verbindungsende (20) liegt.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Speichereinheit ein Teil einer PCBA ist, die eine Schaltung aufweist, mit der die Speichereinheit elektrisch verbunden ist, und wobei der Anschluss elektrisch mit der Schaltung verbunden ist und wobei die Schaltung die Speichereinheit und den Anschluss elektrisch verbindet.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, wobei der Anschluss an der PCBA befestigt ist, die PCBA, die Speichereinheit und der Anschluss einen Wagen bilden, der ein Anschlussende und ein zweites Ende aufweist, und wobei die Stange mit dem zweiten Ende verbunden ist.

4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Stange durch einen Stift (19) schwenkbar mit dem zweiten Ende des Wagens verbunden ist.

5. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Gehäuse ferner eine gewölbte Wand (22) umfasst, die an der Außenseite des Gehäuses angeordnet ist, und wobei das Betätigungsende des Hebels um die gewölbte Wand schwenkt.

6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, wobei die gewölbte Wand ferner eine Basis und einen Kanal (27) umfasst, der an der Basis angeordnet ist, und wobei das Betätigungsende des Hebels ferner einen Führungsabschnitt (30) umfasst, der in dem Kanal eingeschlossen ist.

7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Kanal ferner mindestens eine Vertiefung (26, 28) umfasst und wobei der Führungsabschnitt des Betätigungsendes des Hebels ferner einen Überstand umfasst, der durch die Vertiefung lösbar eingefangen ist.

8. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das zweite Ende der Stange einen Vorsprung aufweist, der zwischen einem Paar von Führungsschienen (36) eingefangen ist, und wobei mindestens eine der Führungsschienen ferner mindestens einen flexiblen Überstand (37) umfasst, der sich in Richtung der anderen Führungsschiene erstreckt, so dass der Vorsprung des Betätigungsendes des Hebels in mindestens einer Position eingeschlossen wird, wenn der Vorsprung an dem flexiblen Überstand vorbei gedrückt wird.

9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Gehäuse ferner eine Verriegelung umfasst, um die Stange lösbar in mindestens der ausgefahrenen oder der eingefahrenen Position zu halten.

10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 9, wobei die Verriegelung Folgendes umfasst:

einen Führungskanal, der an einer Oberfläche des Inneren des Gehäuses gebildet ist, wobei der Führungskanal ferner eine Kerbe umfasst, und

ein Führungsabschnitt an dem zweiten Ende der Stange, wobei der Führungsabschnitt in dem Führungskanal beweglich ist und von diesem eingefangen wird, wobei der Führungsabschnitt ferner einen Vorsprung umfasst, wobei der Vorsprung des Führungsabschnitts lösbar in der Kerbe des Kanals gehalten ist, wenn sich der Betätigungshebel in der ausgefahrenen oder eingefahrenen Position befindet.

11. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1, 9 oder 10, wobei ein Gelenkende der Speichereinheit ferner eine Verlängerung umfasst und wobei das Innere des Gehäuses ferner einen Kanal umfasst, der durch mindestens zwei gegenüberliegende Seitenwände gebildet ist, in denen die Verlängerung eingefangen ist, und wobei mindestens eine der Seitenwände ferner mindestens einen flexiblen Vorsprung umfasst, der sich zu der gegenüberliegenden Seitenwand erstreckt, so dass die Verlängerung in einem Abschnitt des Kanals lösbar gehalten wird, wenn die Verlängerung an dem flexiblen Vorsprung vorbei geschoben wird.

12. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 9 bis 11, wobei das zweite Ende der Stange mit einem Gelenkende der Speichereinheit durch einen Stift (19) verbunden ist.

13. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 9 bis 12, wobei das Äußere des Gehäuses ferner eine gewölbte Oberfläche (33) umfasst und das Betätigungsende des Betätigungshebels auf der bogenförmigen Oberfläche schwenkt.

Revendications

1. Dispositif (10) comportant :

un boîtier (14, 25) ayant une cavité intérieure, une partie extérieure, et une ouverture,

une unité de stockage de mémoire (13) disposée à l'intérieur de la cavité intérieure dudit boîtier (14, 25),

un connecteur USB rétractable (11) connecté électriquement à ladite unité de stockage de mémoire (13) de telle sorte que les données stockées dans ladite unité de stockage de mémoire (13) peuvent être transférées vers et en provenance de ladite unité de stockage de mémoire (13), et dans lequel ledit connecteur (11) est configuré pour s'étendre au moins partiellement au-delà de l'ouverture dans le boîtier (14, 25),

un levier (17) ayant une extrémité fonctionnelle (21, 31), une extrémité d'articulation (20), et un point de pivotement, dans lequel le levier pivote sur un point d'appui (18, 35) au niveau du point de pivotement, et dans lequel au moins l'extrémité fonctionnelle (21, 31) du levier (17) est située au niveau de la partie extérieure dudit boîtier (14, 25),

une tige (16) ayant une première extrémité et une deuxième extrémité, dans lequel ladite première extrémité de la tige est connectée à l'extrémité d'articulation (20) dudit levier (17), et dans lequel la deuxième extrémité de ladite tige est connectée au connecteur (11), de telle sorte que, quand le levier (17) est pivoté autour dudit point d'appui (18, 35) dans une direction, le levier (17) pousse contre ladite tige (16) et ladite tige (16) pousse le connecteur (11) au travers de ladite ouverture dans le boîtier (14, 25) jusque sur une position où au moins une partie du connecteur (11) s'étend à l'extérieur du boîtier (14, 25), et de telle sorte que, quand le levier (17) est pivoté autour dudit point d'appui (18, 35) dans une autre direction, le levier (17) tire sur ladite tige (16) et ladite tige (16) tire sur le connecteur (11) au travers de ladite ouverture dans le boîtier (14, 25) jusque sur une position où sensiblement le connecteur (11) tout entier est rétracté à l'intérieur de la cavité intérieure dudit boîtier (14, 25), caractérisé en ce que ledit point de pivotement est entre l'extrémité fonctionnelle (21, 31) et l'extrémité d'articulation (20).

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'unité de stockage de mémoire fait partie d'un PCBA ayant un circuit auquel ladite unité de stockage de mémoire est connectée électriquement, et dans lequel le connecteur est connecté électriquement audit circuit, et dans lequel le circuit connecte électriquement ladite unité de stockage de mémoire et ledit connecteur.

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le connecteur est fixé sur ledit PCBA, le PCBA et l'unité de stockage de mémoire et le connecteur forment un chariot ayant une extrémité de connecteur et une deuxième extrémité, et la tige est connectée à ladite deuxième extrémité.

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la tige est connectée de manière pivotante au niveau de la deuxième extrémité dudit chariot par une goupille (19).

5. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le boîtier comporte par ailleurs une paroi arquée (22) située sur la partie extérieure dudit boîtier, et dans lequel l'extrémité fonctionnelle dudit levier pivote autour de ladite paroi arquée.

6. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la paroi arquée comporte par ailleurs une base et un profilé en U (27) situé au niveau de ladite base, et dans lequel l'extrémité fonctionnelle dudit levier comporte par ailleurs une partie de guidage (30) qui est emprisonnée dans ledit profilé en U.

7. Dispositif selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le profilé en U comporte par ailleurs au moins un renfoncement (26, 28), et dans lequel la partie de guidage de l'extrémité fonctionnelle dudit levier comporte par ailleurs une protubérance qui est capturée de manière libérable par ledit renfoncement.

8. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la deuxième extrémité de ladite tige a une partie saillante qui est capturée entre une paire de rails de guidage (36), et dans lequel au moins l'un desdits rails de guidage comporte par ailleurs au moins une protubérance flexible (37) s'étendant dans la direction de l'autre rail de guidage, de telle sorte que la partie saillante de l'extrémité fonctionnelle dudit levier est enfermée dans au moins une position quand la partie saillante est forcée au-delà de ladite protubérance flexible.

9. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le boîtier comporte par ailleurs un verrou servant à retenir de manière libérable la tige dans au moins l'une parmi lesdites positions étendue ou rétractée.

10. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le verrou comporte :

un profilé en U de guidage formé sur une surface de la partie intérieure dudit boîtier, ledit profilé en U de guidage comportant par ailleurs une entaille, et

une partie de guidage au niveau de la deuxième extrémité de ladite tige, dans lequel la partie de guidage se déplace dans ledit profilé en U de guidage et est capturée par celui-ci, ladite partie de guidage comportant par ailleurs une partie saillante, dans lequel la partie saillante de ladite partie de guidage est retenue de manière libérable dans l'entaille du profilé en U quand le levier de fonctionnement est dans ladite au moins l'une parmi lesdites positions étendue ou rétractée.

11. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1, 9 ou 10, dans lequel une extrémité articulée de ladite unité de stockage de mémoire comporte par ailleurs une extension, et dans lequel la partie intérieure dudit boîtier comporte par ailleurs un profilé en U formé par au moins deux parois latérales opposées dans lesquelles ladite extension est capturée, et dans lequel au moins l'une desdites parois latérales comporte par ailleurs au moins une partie saillante flexible s'étendant vers la paroi latérale opposée, de telle sorte que l'extension est retenue de manière libérable dans une partie dudit profilé en U quand ladite extension est poussée au-delà de ladite partie saillante flexible.

12. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1, ou 9 à 11, dans lequel la deuxième extrémité de la tige est connectée à une extrémité articulée de ladite unité de stockage de mémoire par une goupille (19).

13. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1, ou 9 à 12, dans lequel la partie extérieure dudit boîtier comporte par ailleurs une surface arquée (33), et dans lequel l'extrémité fonctionnelle dudit levier de fonctionnement pivote sur ladite surface arquée.

Drawing